. >> reporter: a research fellow from the employment policies institute, michael feltsman, told me today raising the minimum wage does not reduce poverty and businesses looking to avoid the higher cost of untrained work withers may just start higher fewer people or start using more things like self checkout counters and even a robotic burger flipper. of but senator tom harkin, the democrat from iowa, disagrees. he has introduced legislation to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.80 over the next two years, and he says, quote: it is long past time to establish a fair minimum wage in our country. it is good for families, good for business and good for our economy, and more importantly, it is the right thing to do. people who work hard for a living should not have to live in poverty. an aide to democratic congressman george miller who also supports legislation to raise the minimum wage in the house told "the wall street journal" that when people have more money, they spend more money. but both of the economists we spoke to this morning said they think that a higher minimum wage